It was a pop culture phenomenon in the 1990s, still limping along today, that prompted Christians to question their every action and thought, with the goal of aligning it to Christ’s message. And because it — like many “Christian” movements — was market driven, Christians were encouraged to buy bracelets with WWJD on them.

It’s a sad reflection that, sometimes, cows spend more time ruminating than humans do. Rumination by Steve Henderson, available at SteveHendersonCollections.

Apparently, the idea was not only to remind Christians of the message, since it’s incredibly difficult to remember four words in succession — What. Would. Jesus. Do? — but also to tease and tantalize outsiders (these are non-church attending people, by the way) into asking, “Say . . . what does that WWJD on your bracelet mean?”

Like most fads and Walt Disney movies, it crested and waned, and even enjoyed — as do the ubiquitous Disney princesses — being plastered across t-shirts and over an endless array of products. But, just like the movies, it carried too little substance to make a meaningful difference in the way that people act and think. (Positive impact, that is. Christian pop products, similar to their fairy tale counterparts, prompt confusion between fantasy and reality, to the point that pretty ditties like, “When you wish upon a star . . . Makes no difference who you are . . . Anything your heart desires will come to you . . . ” take on the nature of prayer.)

Not a Bad Question

The sad part about What Would Jesus Do? is that it’s asking a valid question, one that bears reflection far beyond finger waggling at the dieter breaking their resolve with an Oreo cookie and chiding, “What would Jesus do00000000000?”

As children of our Father, with Jesus as our Elder Brother — the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29) — to lead by example, we benefit greatly by truly asking, throughout the day, “How would Jesus act, or react, in a situation like this?” whether that situation is an encounter with our eminently unreasonable boss, some absolute idiot cutting us off in traffic, or being dumped, via text message, by the jerk who isn’t worth all the thoughts we spend on them.

Children ask questions, and adults can learn from this habit. “What would Jesus do?” honestly asked without condemnation, is a good question. Curiosity, original charcoal by Steve Henderson

The point is, the situations are real, living situations, and if Jesus is to be a real, living factor in our lives, then He needs to enter into them. And one way He enters into them is by joining us as we go about our business.

Dallas Willard, in his excellent book, The Divine Conspiracy, described the situation like this:

“If he (Jesus) were to come today as he did then, he could carry out his mission through most any decent and useful occupation. He could be a clerk or accountant in a hardware store, a computer repairman, a banker, an editor, doctor, waiter, teacher, farmhand, lab technician, or construction worker. He could run a housecleaning service or repair automobiles.

“In other words, if he were to come today he could very well do what you do. He could very well live in your apartment or house, hold down your job, have your education and life prospects, and live within your family, surroundings, and time.”1

Words such as these prompt thought, but then again, unlike the acronyms or one liners assaulting us on social media, Superbowl ads, and sermons from the pulp, thoughtfully written words don’t fit on a bracelet, bumper sticker, or Tweet. Digesting them takes time and effort, and putting into practice concepts we learn requires a lifetime, one which we will more successfully live — from a meaningful standpoint — when we don’t allow our relationship with God to be reduced to purchasing a product, repeating a mantra (“It’s a God thing . . . ya know?”), or following a movement.

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About This Woman Writes

Carolyn Henderson is the marketing manager of Steve Henderson Fine Art. In addition to her This Woman Writes blog, Carolyn writes a regular art column for FineArtNews, an online newsletter for artists and art collectors.

April — there’s always something new, for each generation that doesn’t remember the tricks of the generation before. Indeed, that’s a good reason to keep the “generation gap” going, so that each group coming up can be convinced that what it’s being pushed to do and buy is new, improved, and cool. I wonder how long we’ll keep falling for this?

> This Woman Writes posted: “Do you remember What Would Jesus Do? It was a > movement in the 1990s, still limping along today, that prompted Christians > to question their every action and thought, with the goal of aligning it to > Christ’s message. And because it — like many “Christia” >

Thank you, Rick. Our message as children of our Father is deep, because the One who gives us the message is. The important thing is to listen to Him! My prayer is that more of His children will seek His voice, and not be satisfied with the voices of others.

The art, by my husband Steve Henderson, has its own depth, because the painter listens to the Artist.

I’ve been enjoying your articles this morning. As a fellow Believer, thank you for encouraging us all to seek God’s Word instead of relying on others to explain It to us. It’s good to know there are other Bereans with a voice in our local community. Will Carr

Thank you, Will. My prayer is that those who say that they love God will get to know Him to the point that their words mean what they say. And to get there — to know and love God as our Father, to recognize and live freely within that great love of His, we have to break away from the standard model of sitting in the chairs, nodding our heads as the leader speaks, and accepting what we’re told the Bible says.